The Packard Family is alive and well. Between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years I was so hopped up on sugar and happiness our sweet little blog was neglected. No need to fear, I am back and at it with lots of fun happenings!
We started out the wintery festivities with an adventure in gingerbread house making. Don't get it twisted...no actual gingerbread was made! In this house we choose easy and that means graham crackers. I love how at the store I was so worried that we would not have enough candy to decorate! Here we are at the end of January with a cupboard full of half of this candy. With every passing year I realise just how similar my father and I truly are! <3 Mark Curtis!
Jaxson was very excited. At the time I thought the hype was about building the house but I soon realised that he found this to be the easiest lifetime opportunity to score candy. Andrew and I cracked up when after warning him about eating so much candy he picked up a spice drop! HAHAH....not as candy as he thought.
We waited for Emmers to fall asleep before we started this adventure. Sorry future Emilee but girl you are a HANDFUL!
This is the last documented time my hair was straight. Something about growing a baby just zaps my try to be cute energy. Jaxson told me this week he missed my hair like this...awwwwww. In other news, thank you Alton Brown for the awesome Royal Icing (that is a link) recipe.
I love how with each day there is an opportunity to learn something new about my spouse. Brother is a serious house constructor! I love his concentration, seriously this man is so cute! He and I shared a house to decorate. I decorated the land and he took care of the house.
Left: Jaxson
Right: Mom and Dad
Not pictured: Emilee asleep
I love the little fish pond in the back with the gingerbread man fishing. Jaxson decided he liked our house and no longer wanted to build his! His favorite part was the gumdrop pathway. This was a great way to get in some quality family time. We had a blast.
I feel like my table has been covered with fattening awesomeness for the past two months! We were blessed to have Christmas and Thanksgiving together as a family this year. Being a nurse, though very rewarding, comes with the consequence of limited family time on holidays. We loved having Andrew and I's parents, Heidi, Josh and Eric along for the Thanksgiving ride.
Andrew discovered a love of cooking for a group of people. He did an awesome job and dinner was AMAZING. (We may or may not have made enough food to feed 60 people) Jaxsons favorite part of thanksgiving was the dinner. I loved being with family and seeing them love on my kids. Also, Man Of LaMancha.......Best movie ever!
Pop pop had Jaxson busy making little umbrella appetizers for morning brunch. Jaxson loved being a part of the action.
Emilee (as usual) could be found climbing on almost anything, anywhere. Please note that we usually leave the chairs tipped over on the ground so that we can keep her off the table.
Christmas was beautiful! We had a fantastic three days with the Heidi and the kids. The best part was that I stayed in my pajamas ALL DAY LONG! :D
Amy Hitchcock....we LOVE the couches!
I love this girl! Jaxson says that he actually loves her more!
Emilee distracted by the fake boxes of food.
Oh HEIDI!
Jaxsons gift to Emmers! What a sweet princess.
Nana Holly gave Emmers this doll that has become her favorite. I love that I also got Emilee a doll that looks just like this one! Great minds think alike.
Jaxson made out like a bandit.
Love this smile!
A rousing game of Jenga. Of interesting note we now call Jaxsie "Kamakazi", because he is anything but tender when removing the blocks and yet the tower never seems to fall.
We started some new traditions this year, the first being ornament making. This was a really big hit! I am excited to have a Christmas Tree full of childhood dreams and memories.
The finished products
Andrew and Joni 2012
The second tradition started is baking goodies for the neighbors the day after Christmas. We made no bake cookies, pecan bars, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, lemon bars, cheesecake bars, fudge....and a few other items I cant seem to remember. Again, I am sure you can see the theme, overestimated the amount of food needed! I loved the time in the kitchen with the family. We shared stories, laughs, and sampled our share of desserts.
Say hello to my little friend!
I am thankful for this family I have been given. They are a light in this often dark world.
